Sharpnel-shell.



W. ZAIKOWSKY.

' SHRAPNELSHELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1919.

1,290,001 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WLADIMIR ZAIKOWSKY, OF PETROGRAZD, RUSSIA.

SHRAPNEL-SHELL.

Application filed March 4, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

- 7 Be it known that I, WLADIMm ZAiKowsKx,

a citizen of the Russian Republic, and resident of Petrograd, Russia, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Shrapnel-Shells, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the same.

This invention relates particularly to the use of suitable sealing or cushioning members interposed between the shell diaphragm and the cooperating shoulder in the shell body. These members may be thin washers or collar of copper or other suitable lead composition, and if desired, these washers may be adhesively or interlockingly secured to the diaphragm before it is inserted in the shell which facilitates as sembly. For some purposes also, it is desirable to have these sealing washers formed with flanges extending to some extent around the diaphragm edge so as to grippingly engage the same, and if desired interlock in one or more suitable recesses which may be formed in this part of the diaphragm.

In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is .a partial longitudinal section through a shrapnel hell showing this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial section thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a similar enlarged section showing another form of construction.

As indicated in the illustrative accompanying drawings, the shell body 1 may be formed with the usual powder chamber 12 adjacent the base of the shell and with a shoulder 2 adjacent the upper end of this powder chamber with which the diaphragm 3 cooperates. This diaphragm may, of course, be secured to the ignition tube 13 in any suitable way so as to retain the powder charge in the tube and communicating chamber while the bullets or other separate projectiles 14 are packed and retained in the main shell chamber above in any suitable or usual way. The sealing member may be in the form of a washer 7 of relatively thin sheet copper or other suitable composition which is preferably soft enough to be de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Serial No. 220,358.

formed and forced thoroughly into the clear- 'ance spaces in this joint between the shell ther inward than the inner edge of this shoulder. It is also desirable in some cases to form the sealing member with a flange, such as 8, which may extend around and more or less closely embrace the adjacent diaphragm edge which may in some cases be formed with one or more holding recesses, such as 4, or with a continuous holding groove of thi contour into which the edge of the holding flange 8 may be forced before the parts are assembled. It is not of course necessary, however, that such a flange should be provided in all cases and for some purposes a thin sheet or layer of copper or any other suitable or soft material may be applied to either one of these cooperating faces of the diaphragm and houlder in any suitable way, as for instance, by the use of a coating or layer 15 formed of any suitable cementing or adhesive material such as varnish or the like. Or if desired suitable interlocking means may be used for this purpose in addition to such adhesive connection or instead thereof; and, for instance, one or more holding recesses 9 may be provided in the diaphragm which may be of dovetail contour, and in which the holding member may be secured, by forcibly pressing the sealing washer 10 into Contact with the diaphragm in connection with suitable dies, if desired.

When a sealing washer or member of this general character has been preliminarily attached to the diaphragm and inserted therewith into the shell body the parts may, if desired, be powerfully forced together as by hydraulic or other presses so as to sufliciently compress and deform these soft sealing members to force them thoroughly into the 00- operating recesses or clearances between these parts and in some cases to cause the rel atively soft metal to flow between the diaphragm edge and shell body where the washer is of the general character shown in Fig. 3, for example. Such action of course effectively seals this joint at the upper part sibility of sparking under theheavy pressures and impacts of firing. The firing pres,-

sures themselves may of course promote this penetration of the interposed soft ealing washer material whether ornot it has been.

forced into the joint by heavy pressure when the parts are assembled, and of course any such powerful pressure helps to hold the parts together and prevent relative rotary or other movement between them when the shell is fired. The sealing and retainingmember thus minimizes or prevents premature explosions from these causes so as to render the shell much more reliable and certain in operation.

This invention has been described in con nection with a number of -illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, parts, materials, constructions and methods of preparation and use, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims 1. The. shrapnel shell comprising a shell body formed with a powder chamber in its base and with a shoulderadjacent said pewder chamber, a diaphragm cooperating with said shoulder to form the upper side of said powder chamber and an interposed sealing retaining washer formed of soft copper interposed between said shoulder and diaphragm to prevent contact between them and having a holding flange extending around the adjacent diaphragm edge togrippingly engage the same and be interlocked in recesses formed in said diaphragm,

said washer being adapted to be forced'by the adjacent parts into the clearance spacesthereof'to effectively seal the joint between said parts and prevent relative motion between them.

2.iThe shrapnel shell comprising a shell body formed with a powder chamber in its baseand with a shoulder adjacent said poW- der chamber, a diaphragm cooperating with said shoulder to form the upper side of said powder chamber and an interposed sealing retainingwasher formed of soft metal inter-' posed between said shoulder and diaphragm to prevent contact between them and having a portion interlocked in a recess formed in said diaphragm, said washer being adapt- 1 ed to be forced by the adjacent parts into the clearance spacesthereof to effectively seal the joint between said parts and prevent relative motion between them. J

3. The shrapnel shell comprising a shell body formed with a powder chamber and with a shoulder adjacent said powder chamber, a diaphragm cooperating with said shoulder and an interposed sheet metal sealing washer interposed between said shoulder and'diaphragm to prevent undesirable con tact between them and having an inner edge extending radially inward inside of said shoulder, said'washer being forced by the adjacent parts into the clearance spaces thereof to efiectively seal the joint between said parts. ,7

4. The shrapnel shell comprising a shell body formed with a powder chamber and with a shoulder adjacent said powder chamber, a diaphragm .cotiperating with said shoulder and an interposed metal sealing and diaphragm to prevent undesirable contact between-them, said member being forced by the adjacent parts into the clearance spaces thereof to elfectively seal the joint between said parts.

i 5. Theshrapnel shell ccm rising a shell body formed with a powder chamber and with a shoulder adjacent said powder chamber, a diaphragm :cooperating with said shoulder and an interposed metal sealing member interposed between said shoulder and diaphragm to prevent undesirable contact between them and connected to said diaphragm to be inserted therewith into said shell body during assembly, said member being forced by the adjacent parts into the clearance spaces thereof to effectively seal the joint between said parts. 7

i 6. The shrapnel shell comprisinga shell body formed with a powder chamber and with a shoulder adjacent said powder chamber, a diaphragm cooperating with said shoulder and an interposed cushioning retaining member formed of soft metal interposed between said shoulder and diaphragm to prevent contact between them, said member being secured to said diaphragm for insertion therewith into said shell bodyduring assembly and being forced into the clearance spaces between the adjacent parts to-effectively seal the joint between said parts and prevent undesirable relative motion between them. 7

7. The shrapnel shell comprising a shell body formed with a powder chamber and with a shoulder adjacent said powder chamber, a diaphragm -cooperating with said shoulder and an interposed retaining mem her formed of soft metal interposed between said shoulder and diaphragm to prevent contactbetween them, said membe'rfbeing forced into the clearance spaces between the adjacent parts to prevent undesirable relative motion between them. r a

S. The shrapnel shell comprising a shell body formed with a powder chamber and with a shoulder adjacent said powder chamher, a diaphragm cooperat gw said shoulder anda thin layer of soft metal interso 7 member interposed between said shoulder 7 posed between said shoulder and diaphragm sheet of soft cushioning material applied to to seal the joint between them. one of such cooperating contact surfaces be- 9. The shrapnel shell comprising a shell fore assembly of the diaphragm within said 10 body formed with a powder chamber and shell body to thereupon seal the joint be- 5 With a shoulder adjacent said powder chamtween said parts.

her, a diaphragm having a contact face cooperating with said shoulder and a thin VLADIMIR ZAIKOWSKY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addrening the "Comminsioner of Patentu,

Washington, D. 0. 

